Material handling mechanism



Nov. 12, 1935.

s. T. BEEKER AL MATERIAL HANDLING MEQHANISM '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 4Filed. Feb. l'T, 197:2y

n I s, a

\ y"ao '(0 m S f //vvE/vTo/esn Samuel TBeeker' John 5. Be/z vN .Kvm

mm N 5. T. BEEKER El' AL MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM FiledV Feb. 17, 1952 Nov. l2, 1935.

' 7 ySheet's-Sheei'. 2

/NvEN'oRsI amue/ T Bee/fer' Nv. `12, 1935. vs. T. BEEKER E r AL MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANI SM '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 m /Nl/ENTORS: 3 Samuel 7.' Bee/rer HTT'Y.

Nov. 12, 1935. y s, T. BEEKER Er Al. 2,020,632

MATERIAL HANDLING MECHAISM Filed Feb. 17, 1952 7 Sheng-sheet 4 /NvE/vToRs z. Samuel T Bee/ferl John 5. Be/'Z v ATTE.

Nov. 12, 1935. s; TQ BEEKER ETAL 2,020,632

- MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM u Filed Feb. 17, 1932 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 /NvENToRs HTT'Y.

Nov. 12,- 1935.

S', T. BEEKER ET AL MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANI SM Filed Feb. 17, l932 '7 Sheets-Shet 6 iBS ATT'Y Nov. `12, 1.935 i s. T. BEEKER Er AL 2,020,632

MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 17, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 w r S 'T0 LEFT TO RGHT y /NvENToRsz Samuel T Beker' E Jo/7n 5. Be/z "n BY WM f2 2 E N N N ATTY Patented Nov. 12, '1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcEf 2,020,632 1 MATERIAL HANDLING MEcnAmsM Application February 17, 1932, serial No. 593,674 2 claims. (o1. 212-88) Our invention relates to hoisting and traversing mechanism for trolley bucket conveyors to handle material by transferring the same from a track hopper to storage bins or silos and one of the objects of our invention is the provision of improved and efiicient electric controlling mechanism to effect the operation of a clutch for connecting and disconnecting the traversing motor to and from the hoisting mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of electricswitches for automatically stopping the hoisting and traversing mechanism when the material handling carrier reaches pre-V determined locations combined with selector control mechanism, so that an operator at a single station may control the apparatus to secure the desired cycle of operations in the handling of the material.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a complete installation showing a plurality of silos for storing coalv or other material;

Fig. 1a is a diagrammatic View to illustrate the single cable for both. hoisting and travers ing purposes;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the hoisting and traversing apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the are` rows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 locking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of aportion of Fig. 3 with certain parts broken away to show the clutch mechanism which is electro-magnetically operated to connect the traversing motor to the hoisting drums;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6 looking in the directionof the arrows;

Fig. 'la is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 7;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a bucket and a traversing carriage connected to a trolleyway;

Fig. 9 is an end view of the carriage shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an,elevational view of the slack cable switch-mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a side view of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 represents a wiring diagram of an electric system of control 0f the hoisting and traversing motors.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a bucket 20 is shown in a pit 2l in position to receive material through 5 a gate controlled chute 22 from the hopper 23 which is adapted .to receive the material from a railroad car y(not shown) on the track 24.

An inclined guiding track 25 extends from the pit 2| to an elevated position.. A hoisting cable 10 26 is connected to the bucket 20 and to the hoisting drum 38 as illustrated in Fig. 1. When the bucket reaches the upper limit of its travel above the pit 2l the hoisting operation is stopped automatically and this is followed by movement 15 of the bucket 20 along the monorail 28 until it is over a previously selected silo 29. Preferably the silos are arranged symmetrically with respect to the guiding structure' 25 and the pit 2l. In Fig. 1 there are shown six silos, three on one side 20 of the pit 2l and three on the other side thereof. The number of silos may be varied as desired.

Referring to Fig. 3 the hoisting engine 2l' comprises two hoisting drums 36 and 38 with differential power transmission mechanism 32 bee5 tween the same and a hoisting motor 40 connected to the power transmission mechanism. Suitable bed plates lli, 4i secured to foundations in the usual manner may be used for supporting the hoisting engine. 30 Upon the base 4I are mounted the pillow blocks 3G and 3l and the diierential power transmission mechanism 32 having the bearings 33 and 34. In the pillow block 3! and the bearing 33 is journaled the shaft 35 to which is keyed the drum 35 36. In the pillow block 3| and the bearing 34 is journaled lthe .shaft 3l to which is keyed the hoisting drum 38.' Thehoisting .drums 36 and 38 are power operated to wind in or pay out the cable 26 which is composed of two strands but ar- 40 ranged as a single cable, one end of one strand being connected to the drum 36 and one end of the other strand being securedto the other drum 38. The two strands of cable 26 are trained about sheaves, as will be more fully hereinafter 45 described, and secured to a bracket 39 of the bucket 20 as shownvin detail in Fig. 8 anddiagrammatically in Figs. l and la. When the hoisting motorll) is operated, the differential power transmission mechanism 32 will rotate both of the 50 drums 36 and 38 in the same direction to elect hoisting of the bucket from the pit 2| or from the interior. of a silo 29. The hoisting motor 40 which is mounted on the bed plate 4l' is directly connected by a coupling 55 I 45 of'the housing 32' enclosing the diiferential 42 to a shaft 43 mounted in the bearings 44 and bearing 44 is a double ball thrust bearing as shown at 44'. 'Ihe inner race 46 is mounted on the shaft 43 and held between an annular shoulder 41 on the shaft 43 and a locknut 48 screw threaded onto the left hand end 43' of the shaft 43 as shown in Fig. 4. I The outer race 49 is mounted in ,a cup shaped sleeve casting D seated in an inwardly extending apertured boss 5| of the differential gear housing 32'. The outer race 49 may be in two sections and so also the inner race 46 as shown in Fig. 4. The outer race is held between an annular flange 52 of the sleeve 50 and an annular extension 53 of a cover plate 54 which is fixed to the casing 32 by a plurality of cap screws 55. These cap screws also prevent the sleeve 5|) from rotating in the supporting boss 5|.

To disassemble the double thrust bearing 44 for inspection or repair only the cap screws 55 need be removed whereupon the lock nut 48 may be released and the two sections of the ball bearing 44' removed from the journal 41' of the shaft 43.

The bearing 45 at the opposite end of the shaft 43 diers from the bearing 44 because the shaft 43 must extend through it. The ball bearing 45' comprises an inner race 56 mounted on the shaft 43 against a shoulder 51 and the outer race 56 is mounted in a counterbore of the sleeve or closure member 58 which fits inside of the apertured boss 59 of the casing 32 and is fixed thereto by the cap screws 66.

A packing gland 6| is associated with the packing 6| as shown in Fig. 4 to cooperate with the packing 58 to prevent egress of oil from the oil chamber 51. 'An oil ring 62 may be provided to assure the directing of oil to the bearing 45. In order to remove the bearing 45 only the cap screws 66 need be removed whereupon the sleeve 58 may be slid out of the cylindrical boss 59. The bearing 45' comprising the inner and outer races 56 and 58' ,may be removed with the sleeve 58 from the-shaft 43 or taken oif the shaft 43 individually. Prior to removing the sleeve 58 the packing gland 6I may be loosened to facilitate sliding of the packing 6| off `the shaft 43. Mounted on the shaft 43 is a worm 63 which meshes with a worm wheel 64. Bevel gears 65, 65' are rotatably mounted on studs 61, 61 of the spider casting 68, said gears 65, 65 meshing with I bevel gears 66 and 66 xed to the ends of the shafts 35 and 31, respectively. Mounted upon the hubs of the gears 66 and 66' are inner races 69, 69' of a pair of thrust roller bearings the outer races 10, of which .are carried by the annular members 1|, 1| bolted to the spider 68 as shown in Fig. 5. The arrangement is such that the worm wheel 64 is mounted concentric with the axes of the shafts 35 and 31 and all of the gearing is properly meshed.

The hoisting drums 36 and 36 as'shown in Fig. 3 are mounted on the shafts 35 and 31 for rotation therewith. If the motor 46 is operated to drive the worm 63 the drums 36 and 38 will both be rotated in the same direction. According to the direction of the motor 46 the cable 26 will be wound up or paid out to elevate or lower the bucket 20. It can readily be seen-by referring to Fig. 5 that since the bevel gears 66 and 66' are keyed to the shafts 35 ,and 31 to rotate therewith, rotation of the worm wheel 64 by means of the worm 63 will eiect rotation of the shafts 35 and 31, both in the same direction, by reason of the connections between the worm wheel 64 and the 5 bevel gears 66 and 66 through the bevel gears 65, 65' notwithstanding the fact that the latter are mounted for rotation on the shafts 61 and 61' relatively to the spider casting 68.

When the bucket 26 is elevated along the guideway 25 itis disconnected from the trolley carriage. The bucket 20 may be like that shown in the Macy Patent 1,772,777, granted August l2, 1930, for an improvement in Hoisting buckets. The bucket 26 as shown in Fig. 8 comprises end 15 walls 13 and side Walls 14. The bucket 20 has a hooded top with an opening through which the bucket may be loaded. Guide rollers 16, 16 are located at the sides of the bucket to guide it up and down the runway from the pit where it is loaded, said rollers 16 serving to support the bucket while it is being loaded.

Brackets 11, 11 xed to the side Walls of the bucket 26 carry pins 18, 18 on which are pivotally mounted the swinging doors 19, 19 which when, 25 closed form the bucket bottom. The doors 19 are urged to open positions by their own weight and the weight of the material in the bucket.

The bracket 39 at the top of the bucket serves to connect the strands of the cable 26. of the strands being connected to the bracket4 39 by means of the cross piece 39' there is no interruption in the continuity of the ,cable 26 and consequently only a single cable is in fact employed.

The bracket 39 is connected through the swivel 35 88 to the link 80 which is in turn connected to door closing mechanism such as that shown in the Macy Patent 1,772,777 and therefore no further disclosure is deemed necessary.

A latch 8| pivoted on a pin 82 mounted in a casting 83 attached to one of the doors 19 is adapted to engage a. pin 84 carried by a similar casting 85 attached to the other door 19. This latch is provided with a foot 66 which is of sufcient weight and so positioned relative to the pivot pin 82 that the latch will be moved to latched position when the bucket is lifted while empty and the foot 86 is freed from coal or other material in the silo.

The foot 86 is also adapted to disengage the latch 8| from the pin 84 when the bucket is lowered into the silo and the foot 86 engages ma' terial previously delivered to the silo. In other words, when the bucket is lowered into a silo with the door 19 closed and the bucket containing 55 a load of material, such load will be discharged when the foot 86 strikes the material whichV has been previously loaded into the silo. After the doors 19 have been opened automatically by the `foot 86 striking previously loaded material in 60 the silo and the bucket is lifted the closing of the doors 19 is retarded as illustrated in the Macy Patent 1,772,777 so as to assure discharge of all material from the bucket.

Positioned above and supported by the silos 29 is a monitor or housed trackway in which is positioned the monorail or track 28 extending from one end to the other of the whole row of silos, as illustrated in Fig. l. The track is illustrated in Figs. 2, 8 and 9-in the form of an I- beam 28. A carriage 81 is adapted to be propelled along the I-beam 28 when the bucket 28 is in its elevated position and connected to the carriage.

The carriage 81 comprises a pair of longitudi nally extending bars 88 to which are pivotally 75 The ends l a pair of sheave housings 92, 92 having sheave pins 93, 93 on which are Vmounted the sheaves 94, 94. The sheave housings 92 are connected by a pair of bars 95, 95, said bars being-mounted on the sheave pins 93.

Depending from and pivotally mounted on theV pins 93 are two pairs of channels 96, 96 connected together below their upper ends by means of the bars 91, 91. It will thus be seen that the sheaves 94 are suspended by means of the sheave housings 92 from the longitudinal bars 88 and that the latter are suspended by means of the trolley wheel mechanism shown from the I-beam track 28. The sheave pins 93 extend through openings in the upper ends of the channel members 96 and cotter pins 93 are relied on to keep the sheave pins 93 in proper position relative to the channel members 96. The channel members 96 with the cross bars 95 and 91 securedl thereto constitute a frame to the upper corners of which are connected the sheaves 94 for rotation on the.

axes of the sheave pins 93.

The cable 26 which is secured to the hoisting drum 36 extends upwardly to a sheave 98 as shown in Fig. 1. The sheave 98 is swingably hung from a truss 99 secured to the roof 99' in a position spaced back of the track I-beam 28 as shown in Fig. 2. The cable 26 extends from the sheave 98 to the left-hand end of the track 28 as shown in Fig. 1 where it passes around a sheave |90 and thence back to the sheave` 94 and down to the cross piece 39' and the bracket'39 on top of the bucket 20 as shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 1a shows diagrammatically the manner in which the strand of the single cable 25 extends from the drum 36 to and around the sheaves 98, and 94 to the top of the bucket 20.

The other strand .of the single cable 26 that is secured to the drum 38 extends upwardly to a sheave |0| suspended in the same manner as sheave 98 in a position where it will not interfere with the traversing or trolley movements of the bucket 20 along the path extending over the tops of the silos.

From the sheave |0| the cable 26 extends to and around the sheave |02 at the right hand end of the' installation shown in Fig. 1. The

4cable 26 extends from the sheave |02 to the right hand sheave 94 shown in Fig. 8 and thence downwardly to the bracket 39 on' top of the bucket 2|).-

While two separate strands of cable are illustrated'one extending from the hoisting drum 36 and the other extending from the hoisting drum 38, it should be understood'xthat the connection to the bracket 39 may be made without interrupting the'cable. For instance, the bottom of the cross piece 39' may be grooved and an open ing provided through the bracket 39 for the passage of the single strand 26 along such groove. It should be particularly noted that the single cable is used for both elevating the bucket and moving it along the horizontal trackway so as to position the bucket over any one of the silos. From its. position over a predetermined silo the bucket may be lowered into the silo by means of the same cable.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9 angle 'clips |03, |03

arel secured by means of riveting or welding to the channels 96 a short distance below the sheave pins 93. Slidably extending through aperturesin the angle clips |03 are rods |04-the lower ends of which extend through apertures of the angle plates |05, |05 xed to the upper ends of a pair of plates |06 adapted to slide vertically between the flanges of the channel bars 96 as shown in Fig. 8.

Vertical slots |01 in the channels 96 are adapted to receive bolts |08 to vertically guide the plates |06 along vertical channels 96. Cross channels |09 connect the lower ends of the plates |06 and provide feet or abutments against which the bucket may strike when it is elevated to its uppermost linut.

Encircling the rods |04 are springs ||0.

lcause the bucket is at certain times loaded when reaching itsy upper limit of travel and at other tim'es it is emptyand moreover the bucket may be o-perating at varying speds when loaded and when empty.

In order to utilize both of the drums 36 and 38 for horizontal travel or traversing of the bucket along the I-beam track 28 such drums must be rotated in opposite directions. That is to say, while for elevating purposes the drums are both rotated in the same direction, they must be rotated in opposite directions when traversing of the bucket along the track 28 is to be effected.

A separate motor serves as a trolley motor or-traversing motor. 'Ihe motor l is connected to and disconnected from the shaft 31 of the drum 38 by means of the electro-magnetic clutch shown in Fig. 6. When the motor is connected-to the drumv 38 by means of the electro-magnetic clutch so as to apply power to such drum the l |10 positioned between the plates |05 and the angle` power transmission differential gearing 32 will effect rotation of the drum 36 in a direction opposite from the direction of the rotation of the drum 38. When the trolley motor or traversing motor is operated the hoisting motor 40 remains stationary and therefore the worm gearing 63, 64 which is self-locking holds the worm wheel 64 locked in stationary position. Consequently when the shaft 31 is rotated the gear 66' will be rotated and the planetary gears 65, 65A as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 will rotate on'stationary shafts or bearings 61, 61'. Such bearings will be stationary because the worm wheel 64 when locked in sta- .tionary position also locks the spider frame 68 in stationary position together with the bearings 61, 61 mounted thereon. Rotation of the planetary gears 65,65' on iixed axes will eiect rotation of the bevel gear 66 and consequently of the shaft 35 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the shaft 31.

The trolley motor may be mounted on a bed plate ||2 as shown in Fig. 3. A worm gear reducer ||3 may be connected to the outer end of the shaft 31 by means of the clutch |4 which may be electro-magnetically operated as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 12. When the shaft 31 is connected to the traversing motor or trolley motor||| by means of the clutch 4 the drum 38 will be rotated in one direction or the other depending upon the direction of rotation of the CTI trolley motor I The direction of traversing travel of the bucket may therefore be controlled by controlling the direction of rotation of the trolley motor III.

The clutch I4 may be of any suitable type and size so as to be eiicient both as to capacity and eiectiveness in the desired operation of the 'bucket in the system illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The clutch ||4 may be of the friction type comprising a driving member I5 having a hub ||6 keyed to the end of the shaft ||1 for rotation thereby. A bushing I I8 inserted in a counterbore of the hub I|6 provides a bearing for the end ofva shaft 31 and thereby alines said shafts 31 and I|1.

Extending around the periphery of the member ||5 is a flange |I9 provided with a plurality of apertures |20 adapted to slidably receive a plurality of pins |2| which are carried by' a circular at steel plate |22 in such manner that the latter will be rotated by said driving member I I5.

A hub |23 keyed to the shaft 31 is provided with a series of slots |23 along which are s'lidably mounted for rotation with the hub |23 an annular ring |25. This ring is provided with keys |24 adapted to register with the slots |23 of the hub 23.

The outer surface of the hub |23 is provided with screw threads upon which is threaded an annular ring |25. It will thus be seen that the annular ring |26 is rigidly connected to the hub |23 to rotate bodily therewith but the annular ring |25 being provided with keys |24 which slide along the longitudinal slots |23 in the hub |23 is movable toward and from the ring I 26, but is prevented by the bell crank levers |41 from moving beyond a predetermined distance from the ring The inner faces of the rings |25 and |28 are faced with bre friction plates so that when one ring is moved toward the other the rings |25 and |26 will grip the steel plate |22 thereby clutching or connecting the driving member ||5 and the shaft ||1 to the hub |23 and shaft 31 to drive the latter.

As shown in Fig. 6 a bracket |35 is secured to the standard 3|' of the pillow block 3|. Pivotedat |31 to the arm |36 of the bracket |35 is a double.

arm lever |38 ,to the ends of which are pivotally connected depending plungers |39, |39 which are adapted to extend downwardly into the solenoids |40 and. |4I. A lever |42 is pivotally mounted at |43 on the arm |44 of the bracket |35. The lever |42 is pivotally connected at |45 at its lower end to the upper central portion of the lever |38. The pivot |45 is spaced a short distance from the pivot |31.

At its upper end the lever |42 is bifurcated to encircle a clutch shifting yoke |46. A plurality of bell crank levers |41 are each pivotally connected at |41 to the hub |23 and one leg of each bell crank lever is mounted in position to move the annular ring |25 toward the otherl ring |26 by sliding the keys |24 along the slots |23', when said bell crank levers are rocked on their pivots In order to adjust the clutch mechanism without interfering with the pivotal-movements of the bell crank levers |41 provision is made for adjusting the ring |26 on its thread connection to the hub |23 so as to hold and lock the ring in adjusted position. The ring |26 is provided with a plurality of radial slots or grooves |33 into any one oi which the latch |21 is adapted to be moved by means of the spring |32 which is mounted on the rock shaft |3| between the lugs |30 of the apart.

latch |21 as shown in Fig. 7a. The rockl shaft I 3| is journaled in the spaced apart lugs |29 secured to the steel plate |28. Since the lugs |29 project into one of the slots |23 as shownin Fig. '1

the steel plate |28 while slidable longitudinally of 5 the hub |23 must rotate bodily therewith at all times. By releasing the latch |21 from its groove |33 the ring |26 is released for rotary adjustment relatively to the hub |23. In this manner the ring |26 and the steel plate |28 may be moved tol0 ward or from the ring |25 while the compression springs |34 spaced at intervals around the hub |23 tend to spread the plate |28 and the ring |25 To the left-hand ends of the bell crank levers |41 are connected the levers |48 which are 15 mounted upon pins |49 carried by the flanges |50 of the clutch shifter I5|.

When the solenoid |40 is energized and its plunger |39 pulled down the lever |38 by reason of its pivotal connection at |45 to the lever |42 20 will rock the latter on its pivot |43 `and consequently the clutch will be applied by znoving the ring |25 toward the ring |26 to firmly grip the plate |22. When the solenoid |40 is de-energized and the solenoid |4| is energized the clutch will 25 be moved to released position and the springs |34 will spread the rings |25, |26 apart.

When the bucket 20 enters the pit 2| to receive its load it is guided toward the chute 22 and seated upon the roller 16 in position for the chute 30 22 to deliver material from the hopper 23 to the upper open side of the bucket. The operation of the bucket when receiving a load while occupying its lowermost position in the pit 2| as shown in Fig. 2 may be as described in theMacy 35 Patent 1,705,986, granted March 19, 1929, for an Improvement in bucket controlled spouts.

Electric limit switches of the usual and well known type provided in hoisting systems may be provided to automatically stop the bucket 40 when it reaches its lowermost limit of travel and for automatically stopping the bucket when it reaches its uppermost limit of travel. Such a limit switch is diagrammatically illustrated at |52 in Fig. 12. Such limit switch permits eleva- 45 tion of the bucket to a position adjacent the carriage and automatically stops the hoisting motor 40 and applies the brake |53 to hold the motor stationary together with the self-locking worm gearing comprising the worm 63 and the 50 worm wheel 64.

The arrangement is also such that when the solenoid |4| yis de-energized and the solenoid |40 is energized to effect, the application of the clutch ||4 to connect the motor to the drum 55 -38 the direction of travel of the bucketJ will be longitudinal of the I-beam track to any selected one of the silos 29. Upon reaching the point immeditely above the previously selected silo the travel limit switch |54 shown in Figs. 3 and 12 60 will be operated to automatically stop the trolley m'otor III, de-energize the solenoid |40 and en-A ergize the solenoid |4| to release the clutch II4. The motor 4|) may then be operated to lower the bucket into the predetermined silo by paying out 65 the cable 26 from both of the hoisting drums 36 and 38.

When the foot 86 shown in Fig. 8 reaches the pile of material in the selected silo thelatch will be disengaged and continued downward movement of the bucket will cause slack in the cable 26.

By means of the slack cable switch and th mechanism associated therewith as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 the current to the hoisting motor 75 lthe same.

will be cut oil and the brake |53 applied to stop No'w upon reversing the current through the motor 40 and releasing the brake |53 the motor 46 may again be operated to wind the cable 26 on the two drums 36 and 38 to`eiect lifting of the bucket out of the silo. When the bucket reaches its upper limit of trave1 at the top of the silo against the carriage 61 the limit switch |52, shown in Figs. 3 and l2, will operate to stop the m'otor 40 and apply the brake |53. Then by operating the motor to trolley the bucket'back toiits position over the top of the` pit the bucket will be moved until it reaches v such position when it will be automatically stopped by the limit switch |54, the clutch ||4 being released and the motor I I I stopped by having' the current cut oil.' from the same .and the brake |55 applied. The bucket may then be lowered-along the guideway 25 to complete the cycle of operations,l the limit switch |52 being again relied on to automatically stop the bucketat its lower limit of travel in the pit 2|.

The limit switch |52 is geared to the armature shaft of .the motor" 40 through a chain and.

sprocket wheel-connection |56 and a speed reducer` |51.l This limit switch may be Set so that after a given number of rotations of the motor it will permit a predetermined elevation of the bucket when said limit switchowill operate to automatically interrupt the current to the motor and effect application ofthe brake |53.-

The limit switch |54 is geared to the motor v| through the chain andV sprocket connection |56, one sprocket |56' of which is xed to the hub ||6 and the clutch member 5 as shown in Fig. 6. The sprocket |58' is therefore keyed to the hubv ||6 and the latter is keyed to the shaft ||1. lThe limit r'switch is so adjusted that the traversing motor will be automatically stopped when the bucket reaches the desired silo and in reversed movement or trolleying back the bucket will be automatically stopped when it arrives at a position immediately above `the pit.

'I'he slack cable take-up and switch mechanism illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 cuts oi! the power to the hoisting motor 40 when the bucket is lowered to the top of the pile in the silo. As shown in Fig, 1 the slack cable mechanism is attached to the left-hand end silo and immediately below the left-hand end oi' the horizontal track 26.

Connected to the sheave |00 -is a cable I 60 which extends arounda sheave |6| carried by a supply circuits.

bracket |62 fixed to the end of the track 28. The

- cable |60v then extends downwardly and is attachedto the upper end of the rod |63 by means of an eye.|64. The rod |63 is slidably supported in apertures of a pair of lugs 65 and |66 cast integral with the base |61 which maybe i'lxed to a channel support I 68 which in'turn is mount' ed upon the end silo 29 as illustrated in Fig. 11. The lower end of the rod |63 is provided with an eye |69 to which is fixed one end of a. cable |10 and at the lower end of the latter is carried a counter-weight |1| of sumcient weight to" take up the slack in the cable 26 which is caused by the bucket settling on thepile of material in the silo.

tioned between-the lugs |65 and a collar |13 fixed to said rod |63 about midway between the .v

absorb the shock.

A spring |12 encircles the rod In and is posi- |16 which extends downwardly around a sheave 5 |11 and thence upwardly to vthe slack cable switch. The sheave |11 is pivoted at |18 to the bracket |19. l

'I'he cable |16 after passing around the sheave |-11 isfconnected to the arm |80 of the switch 10 lever |6| pivotally mounted in the housing |62.

The slack cable switch mechanism is mounted on a` bracket |83 ilxed to the channel member |68 and electrically connected with the circuits in such manner that when the slack in the cable 15 |60 occurs the counter-weight |`||4 'moves the rcd |63 downwardly thereby relieving the tension on the cable |16 and permitting the counterweight |64 to open the slack cable switch |80 and thereby stop the hoisting motor as more fully 20 hereinafter explained in connection with the descriptionof the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 12.

A spring4 |65 encircling the rod'I63 and positioned between the lower lug |66 and the collar |13 fixed to the rod |63 is of sumcient length 25 that when the counter-weight |1| moves down to take up the slack in the cable |60 the collar |13 will engage the top of the' spring |85 and It will thus be seen that .when slack in the 30 cable |60 occurs the spring |12 under compression coacts with the counterweight |1| to move the collar |13 down against the buffer spring |65. At the same time the eye |14 is moved down to permit the weight |64 to open the switch |60. 35'

nected thereto. The hoisting motor 40, which is 40 provided with the electro-magnetic brake |53, may be an alternating current induction motor controlled by the manual switch 2 I9 and the electro-magnetic up and down reversing switches 220 and 22|. A main line switch 222 may be em- 45 ployecl for connecting the supply mains 223 to the motor circuits.

The switch lever 224 may be arranged so that when moved in the direction of the arrow marked Up the insulated bar 225 will connect the sta- 50 tionary segments 226 and 221 thereby completing a circuit between two phases of the main The circuit may be traced from the supply main 228 through the conductor 229, solenoid 55- 230 of the Up electro-magnet, conductor 23|,

segment 226, insulated bar 225, segment 221, con-v ductor 232 to the Up contact 233 of the hoist limit switch |52.4 Thence the current continues through the wiping cross piece 235 and conduc- 6o tors 236 and 231 to the supply main 236.

"When the solenoid 230 is energized it lifts the plunger 239 to cause the three plates 240, 24| and 242 to connect the fixed contacts adiacent the same and thereby complete the circuitthrough e5 the hoisting motor 40, to rotate the same inthe -Y proper direction iorpperating both oi' the hoisting drums 36 and 36 in the same direction and to lift the bucket fromrthe pit 2| along the guideway 25 toward the overhead track 26. 4 70 The motor Vcircuits from the supply mains. through the motor 40 will be through the econductors 226, 236 and 246 and the switch plates 240, 24| and 242 to the star connected windings of the hoisting motor 40. At the same time the 75 'off the fixed contact 233 to the dotted line position 235' shown in Fig. 12 at the time that the y'bucket reaches its uppermost limit of travel above the pit 2| or at the -time that the upper cross `beam 13' of the bucket strikes the buffer mechanism of the carriage 81.

When the Up limit switch operates, the circuit through the lsolenoid 230 is interrupted and thereupon the motor switch is opened and the solenoid 244 is de-energized to cause the spring of the brake |53 to apply the latter and thereby stop the hoisting motor.

When the bucket reaches the upper limit of its travel above the pit 2l and the brake |53 is applied to stop the hoisting drum, the switch lever 224 must be moved back to its central position.

In Fig. 12 three manually operated switches are shown, one designated 2I8 for controlling the hoisting and lowering of the bucket, another designated 246 for controlling the traversing movements `out from the top of the pit along the trolley trackrt-he third switch designated 241 is for the purpose of controlling the return-travers-v words, no switch lever can be moved from its central position unless the other two are in their central-positions.

Assuming that the bucket has been moved from the pit 2|, to its uppermost limit of travel and automatically stopped there by the opening ol the limit switch 233, 235, the switch lever 224 is moved to its-central position shown in Fig. 12. The switch lever 248 is then moved to the position indicated by thedotted line B. Such positioning of the switch lever 248 will move the insulated contacts 249 and 250 from the stationary contacts 25| and 252 below the same. Such opening of the switches 25| and 252 will inter- `rupt the circuit of the solenoid |4|. So long as v'the switch lever 248 is in central position and -the main line switch 222 is closed a circuit' connect the segments 26| and 262 to establish a. .circuit through'the solenoid |46 which is shown in Fig. 6 arranged for the purpose of applying the clutch. It should be particularly noted that the position C of the switch lever 248, is such that the clutch I |4 will be applied to connect the traversing motor or trolley motor to the hoisting drum 38 before the motor is started.

The circuit established by the lever 248 in its 5 position C extends from the supply main 228" through the conductors 253, 263, segment 26|, contactor 260, segment 262, conductor 264, solenoid |48, conductors 265, 266, 236, 231, to the supply main 238.

After the electro-magnet |40 comprising its solenoid and plunger has been operated to firmly apply the clutch ||4 and the clutch has been locked by the toggle action of the pivot |45 as shown in Fig. 6 or by the passing of the pivot |45 15 to the left of the line extending through the pivots |31 and |43, the switch lever 248 may be moved to either its position D or the position E, according to what silo 29 is to be selected. For the sake of simplicity, 1 have shown the 20 selector switch 246 arranged for the selection of any one of four silos, but it should be understood that there may be any niunber of silos on either side of the pit 2|. Position D of the switch 248 represents the first silo to the left of the 2 pit as shown in Fig. 1.

Assuming that the lever 248 is moved to its position D to select the first silo to the left of the pit a circuitwill be established through the solenoid 261 designated To left. The cir- 30 'cuit will be from the supply main 228', through conductor 268,- solenoid 261, conductor 269, segment 210, contactor 25D, stationary contact 21|, conductor 212, limit switch 213, wiper contactor 214, conductor bar 215 and conductors 266, 236, 35

231 to supply main 238.

Fig. 3 shows the connection of the selector limit switch |54 to the power transmission mechanism connected between the motor and the clutch I|4. This power transmission mechanism 40 includes self-locking worm gearing ||3 which isconnected by means of the shaft ||1 to the sprocket |58 as shown in Fig. 6.

By means of reduction gearing 215 the sprocket chain |58 is connected to a screw threaded rod 45 216 for operating the traveling wiping contactor 214.

When the solenoid 261 is energzed its plunger 211 will be lifted to close the switch 218 connected thereto, thus connecting the supply mains to the trolley motor and at the same time energizing the solenoid |55 to effect vrelease of the brake |55. The trolley motor will then operate to drive the power transmission mechanism between the motor and the hoisting drum 38. At this time the hoisting motor 40 will be stationary and the brake |53 will hold the differential gear mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in such position as to eiect rotation of the'hoisting drum 36 in a'direction opposite to the rotation 60 of the drum 38.

The single cable connected to the bucket carriage and trolley mechanism will then be operated to trolley the bucket out-to the left from its position at the top of the pit and the guide frame 25. The selector switch mechanism |54 will then operate to move the contactor 214 to the left as viewedin Fig. 12 until it runs oi the stationary bar 219 whereupon the current through the solenoid 261 will be interrupted and the switch 218 will be opened, the solenoid |55 de-energized and the brake |55 applied to stop the trolley motor The bucket will then. be located immediately above the rst silo to the left of the Ver 248 had been moved to its position E on the contact 280 the bucket would have moved to the second silo t the left -of the pit before the contactor 214 `moved off the conductor bar 28| to eiect stopping of the trolley motor.

The next operation desired after trolleying out the bucket to a selected silo, is to lower the bucket into the silo. This is done by moving the switch lever 224 in the direction `of the 'arrow marked Down in Fig. 12 to cause the bar 225 -to connect the segments 282 and 283, but before this can be done, the switch lever 248 must be moved back to central position by reason of the mechanical i`nterlocks between the three switch levers.

When the switch lever 248 is;- moved from its position D to its position B, the circuit through the solenoid I 40 is broken and therefore the clutch ||4 is placed in readiness to be released but it still remains locked because of the pivot |45 of Fig. 6 still being to the left of the line between the pivots |31 and |43. However, when the switch lever 248 reaches the central position the switch 25| and 252 will be closed and the circuit through the solenoid |4| between supply mains 228 and 238 will be established. As .soon as the electro-magnet |.4| is energized, the clutch 4 will be forcibly released by movement of the leversto their positions shown in Fig. 6. Therefore, before the hoisting motor is operated, the trolley motor is disconnected from the hoisting drum 38 by fully releasing the clutch |4.

` ply mam Nowfupon moving l,of the switch lever 224 to the left a circuit will be established from the sup- 228 through the conductor 229, the "Down solenoid 284, conductor 285, slack cable switch 286,'conductor 281; segment 282, con\ tactor 225, segment 283, conductor 288, stationary conductor bar 234, Wiper contactor 235 whilev in its dotted line position 235', and conductors 236, 231 tothe supply main 238.

The energization of the Down solenoid 284 will effect lifting of the plunger 30| to close the switch 362 to effect rotation of the hoisting mctor 40 in the vproper' direction to payout the cable 26 from both drums simultaneously. When the switch 392 is closed the solenoid 244 is energized to effect release of the brake |53.

As soon as the filled bucket meets the top of the material previously loaded into the silo, the shoe 86 will effect unlocking of the door mecha-4 nism at the bottom of the bucket as shown in Fig. 8 and as hereinbefore explained. When'this 'occurs the slack in the cable 26 will effect the opening of the slack cable switch 286. Byreferringy to Fig. l, it will be seen that when the cable 26 becomes slack by the bucket engaging the material in the silo the cable |60 becomes slack thus relieving the tension on the rope |16 and thereby permitting the weight |84 to move down and lift the lever |80 off `the contacts of the slack cable `switch 286.

' When the slack cable switch 286 isopened, the

circuit through the Down solenoid 284 is interrupted, the switch 290 is opened to cut off the current from the motor 40, the solenoid 244 is di-energized and the brake |53 applied to stop the hoisting motor and therefore stop the lowering of the bucket in the silo. Now upon reversing the switch 2|9 by movement of the lever 224 in the direction of the arrow Up, the contactor 225 connects the segments 226 and v2 21 to energize the up solenoid 230, whereupon the hoisting motor will be reversed, its brake released and the bucket lifted 01T the pile of coal in the silo and while this is being done the coal in the bucket will be delivered to the silo. `.After the bucket is emptied the doors in thc bottom thereof will be closed with retarded movements during continued lifting of the bucket. i 5

As the bucket moves toward its upper limit of travel in the selected silo, the contactor 235 will travel along the stationary conductor bar 233 until it runs off the same to its dotted line position 235', whereupon the circuit through the Up solenoid 230 will be interrupted and the lmotor stopped. Then the bucket will again be to the trolley carriage 81 as shown in `the electro-magnetic switch designated To right. The first movement of the switch` lever 289 to the left will effect opening of the switch 256 and consequently the de-energization of the solenoid |4| so as to release the clutch for appli- 25 cation. This' Will be followed by the contacter 299 connectingthe xed segments 29| and 292 whereupon a c'rcuit will be established through the solenoid |40 to cause the clutch ||4 to be applied and lockedin applied position to connect 30 the trolley motor to the hoisting drum 38 while the motor 40 is stationary and the brake |53 applied. Y v

Further movement of the switch lever 289 to the left, causes the contactor 293 to connect the contacts 294 and 295. A circuit will then be establlshedfrom the supply main 228 through the conductor 258, solenoid 296-, conductor 291, contacts 294,` 295, conductor 298, conductor bar 299 and wiper 214 wh-le in its dotted line posimechanism |54 causes the wiper contactor 214 to reach its full line position. it will run oi the bar-299 and thereupon the circuit throughA the solenoid 296 w'll be interrupted. 'I'he switch 300 will be opened and the brake v|55 applied. So longas the switch lever 209 remains in its lefthand position connecting the segments 29| and 50 292, the clutch ||4 remains applied, but inasmuch as the switch 241 mustbe restored to its central or neutral position before the bucket can be lowered, the solenoid |40 will be de-energized when the contacter 290. moves off the segments 55 29| and 292. When the switch 256 is closed the solenoid |4| willlbe energized and the clutch ||4 will be released.

Then upon moving the switch lever 224 in the direction of the Down" arrow, the segments 282, 283 will be connected while the wiper contactor 235 is in its dotted line position 235. This operation w'll eifect thebperation of the Down electro-magnetic switch to effect lowering of the bucket along the guideway- 25. When the bucket reaches its lowermost limit of travel the contacter 235 will run off the bar 234 to its full line position and thereupon the hoist motor will be stopped and the' brake 53 will be applied.

Itshould be understood that the hoist limit swtch |52 and the trolley selector limit switch |54 maybe provided with adjustable contacts to compensate for stretching of the cable 26 or otherwise, and to provide for such variations as may be desired from timevto time in vthe operation of the system. The clutch I4 may be made of suiiicient size and capacity, and so also the electro-magnets |39 and |40, to prevent slipping of the clutch when the motor. I operates the traversing mechanism. It is desirable to reduce the slippage of the clutch to a minimum as it is used not only in the starting of the drum 38 but also in the stopping of the same, and the selector limit switch |54 is connected to operate in synchronism with the motor and the drum 38. The sprocket chain |58 must be connected to the member ||5 of the clutch ||4 and not to the shaft 3l, because the latter rotates during hoisting operations as well as traversing operations and the selector limit switch |54 is to be operated only during traversing operations.

The normal and intended operation of the system may be efliciently carried out at the control board by a single operator, particularly when such control board is located adjacent the hoist and traversing mechanism shown in Fig. 3. Such operator will know after he moves the switch 2|9 to Up position and the hoisting engine 21 stops automatically, that the bucket is at the upper limit of travel of the guide-way 25. The operator then moves the switch 2|9 to neutral position and operates the switch 246 as a selector switch according to the particular silo to which the material is to be delivered. The operator knows when the bucket automatically stops at the top of the selected silo, and then moves the selector switch 246 back to neutral position. He then moves the switch 2 9 to lower the bucket into the silo until the hoisting engine automatically stops. Then by reversing the switch 2|9 the bucket will be lifted, the slack-cable switch 286 will be restored to its initial position, and when the hoisting engine is automatically stopped the switch 2 9 is moved to neutral position. Then by operating the Trolley back switch the bucket is moved to its position at the top of the guideway 25, The stopping of the traversing motor is a signal'to the operator to move the switch 241 back to neutral position and to move the switch 2|9 to Down position. When the hoisting engine is stopped automatically by the limit switch |52 the switch 2|9 is moved back to neutral position.

It must be seen that by reason of previous adjustments made of the limit switch mechanism the operator at the control board need rely only upon the operation andthe stopping of the hoisting and traversing mechanism near the control board as signals to him for the operation in proper sequence of the switches 2|9, 246 and 247.

Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as dened by the claims hereto appended, and we wish therefore not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of our invention, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1'0

1. IIn material handling mechanism, the combination with two hoisting drums, of a hoisting motor, differential mechanism between said drums and connected to said motor, a traversing motor, means comprising an electro-magnetic l5 clutch for connecting said traversing motor to one of said drums, electro-magnetic means for holding said clutch released when said iirstnamed motor is operating, a limit switch in circuit with the hoisting motor for automatically 2U stopping the bucket at each limit of vertical movement, a limit switch in circuit with the traversing motor adapted to stop automatically the traversing of the bucket at any pre-selected location, instrumentalities in circuit with the motors for automatically rendering one of the said motors inoperative while the other motor is operating, brake devices for the motors, and means for locking the hoisting mechanism for securing the 30 bucket in elevated position against slipping during traversing operations.

2. In material handling mechanism, the combination with hoisting and traversing mechanism, of a bucket, hoisting and traversing draft means 35 connecting said bucket to said hoisting and traversing mechanism, a hoisting motor, a traversing motor, a clutch between the traversing motor and the hoisting and traversing mechanism, means for applying and releasing the clutch, 40 a limit switch in circuit with the hoisting motor for automatically stopping the bucket at each limit of vertical movement, a limit switch in circuit with the traversing motor adapted to stop automatically the traversing of the bucket at any 45 pre-selected location, instrumentalities in circuit with the motors for automatically rendering one of the said motors inoperative while the other motor is operating, brake devices for the motors, and means i or locking the hoisting mechanism for 5o securing the bucket in elevated position against slipping during traversing operations.

SAMUEL T. BEEKER. JOHN S. BELTZ. 55 

